Drop the Gate: “RC (Ricky Carmichael) has been working really hard all week with Broc (Tickle) on improving his starts when the gate drops. We changed our setup a bit to help Broc get out of the gate and we think it should make a big difference on Saturday in Phoenix.”

Don’t Slip: “The Phoenix track is really, really slippery towards the end of the night. The track doesn’t split and allow moisture to come out. The track gets really, really hard and slippery. We have to work hard on tire selection. If we can come up with the right tire and setup on Saturday, that will be key.”

Whoop-de-do: “A shorter whoops section than we had last week in Anaheim will make the racing really fast. I think the track will be faster which is great for the riders and the fans. More riders will be in the hunt because the whoops are a section of the course that a lot of riders struggle with during a race. Shorter whoop sections will allow more riders to go faster. You have to be prepared in your approach knowing that speed through the whoops will be key.”